Active class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The Active class was a class of three scout cruisers of the Royal Navy
, built prior to the First World War, and later seeing service in that conflict. The three ships that made up the class were HMS Active
, HMS Amphion
and HMS Fearless
.
, were beginning to enter service. The Active class was a follow on from the design of the previous Blonde class
scouts, with the main visible difference being the 'plough' bow shape. They also retained the limited protection with plating only covering the machinery spaces. They were ordered under the 1911 Naval estimates and built throughout 1910 and 1911, at Pembroke Dockyard, entering service just before the outbreak of the First World War. The last ship to be built, HMS Fearless, underwent modifications before launching, which included the removal of two 4 inches (101.6 mm) guns and the addition of a 3 inches (76.2 mm) anti-aircraft guns as well as additional search lights.
, and saw action in a number of engagements, with HMS Amphion becoming the first ship of the Royal Navy lost in the war, when she was sunk by a mine
on 6 August 1914. Fearless later became leader of a squadron of the notoriously accident prone K class steam submarines
, accidentally ramming and sinking HMS K17
in January 1918.
Already considered obsolete as the war was drawing to a close, the two survivors were sold for scrapping in the early 1920s.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, built prior to the First World War, and later seeing service in that conflict. The three ships that made up the class were HMS Active
HMS Active (1911)
HMS Active was an Active class scout cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard and launched on 14 March 1911.-Career:...
, HMS Amphion
HMS Amphion (1911)
HMS Amphion was an Active-class scout cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard and launched on 4 December 1911. She became the first ship of the Royal Navy to be sunk in the First World War...
and HMS Fearless
HMS Fearless (1912)
HMS Fearless was an Active-class scout cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard and launched on 12 June 1912.On commissioning she was assigned to the Harwich Force with her sisters, and was the leader of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla...
.
Description
They were the last class of scout cruiser built for the Royal Navy, as their role was increasingly being taken over by the light cruisers, the first of which, the Town classTown class cruiser (1910)
The Town class was a group of twenty-one light cruisers built for the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy . These vessels were long-range cruisers, suitable for patrolling the vast expanse covered by the British Empire...
, were beginning to enter service. The Active class was a follow on from the design of the previous Blonde class
Blonde class cruiser
The Blonde class cruisers were a two ship class of light scout cruisers of the British Royal Navy. They were developments of the earlier Boadicea class class, though were slightly bigger with ten 4 inch guns as their main armament.-History:...
scouts, with the main visible difference being the 'plough' bow shape. They also retained the limited protection with plating only covering the machinery spaces. They were ordered under the 1911 Naval estimates and built throughout 1910 and 1911, at Pembroke Dockyard, entering service just before the outbreak of the First World War. The last ship to be built, HMS Fearless, underwent modifications before launching, which included the removal of two 4 inches (101.6 mm) guns and the addition of a 3 inches (76.2 mm) anti-aircraft guns as well as additional search lights.
Service
All three ships started the war with the Harwich ForceHarwich Force
The Harwich Force was a squadron of the Royal Navy, formed during the First World War, that went on to play a significant role in the war.-History:...
, and saw action in a number of engagements, with HMS Amphion becoming the first ship of the Royal Navy lost in the war, when she was sunk by a mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
on 6 August 1914. Fearless later became leader of a squadron of the notoriously accident prone K class steam submarines
British K class submarine
The K class submarines were a class of steam-propelled submarines of the Royal Navy designed in 1913. Intended as large, fast vessels which had the endurance and speed to operate with the battle fleet, they gained notoriety, and the nickname of Kalamity class, for being involved in many accidents....
, accidentally ramming and sinking HMS K17
HMS K17
HMS K17 was a British K class submarine built by Vickers in Barrow-in-Furness.- Loss :K17 was sunk on 31 January 1918 during the night time fleet exercises later known as the Battle of May Island when she was attached to the 13th Submarine Flotilla. ploughed into K17 at the head of a line of...
in January 1918.
Already considered obsolete as the war was drawing to a close, the two survivors were sold for scrapping in the early 1920s.